'Dune' remake dropped by Paramount

Paramount has dropped plans to make another big screen version of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel Dune.

The studio has been developing a new Dune movie for several years, hiring directors Peter Berg (Hancock) and Pierre Morel (Taken) in the process, but has now allowed the rights to revert back to producer Richard P. Rubinstein.

"Paramount's option has expired and we couldn't reach an agreement," Rubinstein told Deadline. "I'm going to look at my options, and whether I wind up taking the script we developed in turnaround, or start over, I'm not sure yet."

Discussing the difficulties in adapting the epic novel for film, he added: "Sure, it's frustrating, how long this has taken, but most of what I've done that worked out well over the years, like the miniseries The Stand, took a long time.

"Since I know what I want, eventually, I'll find someone who'll agree with me. What I like is that talent has interesting things to say on how they would approach it."

Rubenstein admitted that he may ask Morel and screenwriter Chase Palmer to come back to the project if he is able to raise the $100 million budget needed.

Dune takes place on a desert planet that produces a valuable salt called Melange. The book was made into a movie in 1984 by David Lynch, then adapted again for a TV mini-series in 2000.